TIME FOR HOOPS PLAYOFF PICKS
The brackets for the state basketball playoffs were announced Sunday, which means it’s time for our annual fearless predictions that rarely come true. But we’re convinced this is the year we’ll get it right. Maybe.
Division I boys
Last year, Tempe Corona del Sol was the overwhelming favorite heading into the postseason. This year, it’s a complete guess. Corona, Phoenix Pinnacle, Mesa High, Laveen Cesar Chavez and Scottsdale Desert Mountain can all make legitimate claims that they’ll be celebrating come Feb. 23. Oh, and don’t sleep on Phoenix Mountain Pointe, which has been bolstered by the midseason addition of football star Jalen Brown.
The bracket favors Pinnacle, the No. 3 seed. Corona, Desert Mountain and Mesa are on the other side of the bracket and Cesar Chavez, the No. 2 seed, isn’t as strong as it was last year when it reached the title game behind senior shooting guard J.D. Reagan. Potential first-round upset Has to be No. 20 seed Gilbert Highland against No. 13 Dobson. In the MLK Classic three weeks ago, Dobson held on for a 53-51 victory and couldn’t do anything against Highland’s Jake Toolson, who had 26 points and 10 rebounds. Our pick We’re tempted to go with two-peat (and not Andrus) for Corona, but the Aztecs’ lack of size scares us. So we’ll go with Pinnacle, which has won 13 consecutive games and developed a much-needed third scoring option in guard Trey Ingram to go along with Dorian Pickens and Drew Bender.
Division I girls
There’s only one question that matters: Can anyone beat No. 1 seed Phoenix St. Mary’s, which is 25-1, its lone loss coming against California’s Mater Dei? St. Mary’s has overwhelmed every team it’s faced; Phoenix Pinnacle is the only Arizona school to get within 20 points of the Knights this season.
St. Mary’s should cruise through the top half of the bracket, while Pinnacle and Highland likely will meet in a semifinal for the, uh, right to face St. Mary’s in the title game. Potential first-round upset Don’t be surprised if No. 20 Anthem Boulder Creek Phoenix Pinnacle High’s Drew Bender (21) battles for the basketball with teammate Ken McCormick and Scottsdale Desert Mountain’s Zach Bullock (right) during a game on Feb. 1. ANGELA PIAZZA/AZCENTRAL SPORTS beats No. 13 Phoenix Xavier. The two teams met in late January and Xavier escaped with a four-point overtime victory. Our pick Who else: St. Mary’s. In fact, if the Knights don’t win their third straight title it will be the biggest shock in high school sports this school year.
Division II boys
Phoenix Sunnyslope is the No. 1 seed, but by no means is it a shoo-in. No. 4 seed Paradise Valley is on the same side of the bracket. It took one of three games from Sunnyslope and it lost by just three points in the sectional semifinals.
Then there’s No. 2 seed Tucson Catalina Foothills, which beat Division I Cesar Chavez in early February and has a big-time scorer in junior swingman Chaz Mack, who had 42 in that game. Our pick Catalina Foothills, on a late Mack jumper.
Division II girls
The top seed is Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain, which has a gaudy 28-1 record, but we wonder if a favorable regular-season schedule will hurt Bradshaw Mountain in the tournament. Also, Bradshaw Mountain has a potentially dangerous second-round game against No. 8 seed Scottsdale Saguaro, which has won nine of its past 10 games.
Conversely, three of Chandler Seton Catholic’s four losses were to Division I teams, including powerhouses Pinnacle and Highland. Our pick We’ve learned not to bet against Seton coach Karen Self. Seton, the No. 2 seed, will win its fourth consecutive state title.
If any or all of our picks come true, please remember who told you first. If not, please forget you read this at all.